Spark (formerly 107 Spark FM and Spark FM) is a community radio station serving 15- to 30-year-olds in the Sunderland area. Spark carries a variety of content catering for both mainstream and niche musical audiences, specialising in chart hits and new music throughout the day, and specialist programming after 7 p.m. The radio station broadcasts on 107.0FM and online via the station's website. The official launch of Spark took place at the new £12 million CitySpace building in the centre of the city of Sunderland.
History
The station began broadcasting in November 1997 as Radio Utopia a two-week short term broadcast under the (then) Radio Authority's Restricted Service Licence (RSL) scheme. The station was part of a regional arts festival called "Visions of Utopia" and the station reflected the scheme and carried various programmes tied-in with the scheme, such as "The Quakies" a programme produced by children from the former pit village of Quaking Houses in County Durham. Radio broadcasting predated this by several years, with student programming on the community radio station Wear FM, which closed in 1995 and is now the more commercial station Sun FM. The station was low powered but still proved valuable as a training ground for new broadcasters. Programmes were broadcast from studios in the Forster Building, formerly used by Wear FM, with a transmitter on the roof.
The station was rebranded the following November as "107 Utopia FM" and developed a more formatted sound and joined the "Student Broadcast Network" (SBN) bringing news, national programmes and a 24-hour service to the station. Utopia returned in September 1999 for the first ever freshers broadcast and again proved its value for students and volunteers. The station largely draws volunteers from the University's large undergraduate media courses but has also been part of wider community radio programmes with projects in County Durham, Washington and Sunderland.
During the following years Utopia broadcast more frequently, getting up to broadcasts twice a year. In 2002, Utopia began broadcasting on the 102.4FM frequency. In 2003, the station began to use new studios in the £11m Media Centre at the St. Peter's Campus, when media teaching moved there that year. The old studios have now been demolished and the building is now used to teach courses run by the University's School of Education and Lifelong Learning. The move also facilitated the recording of sessions in The Media Centre's new radio and television studios.
The station applied for a Community Radio Licence from OFCOM in the 2nd licensing round and was awarded a licence in 2007. The station took on the new name of Spark when it launched in 2009. The name is a reflection of the University logo, which they call a 'spark' in homage to the shipyards that were central to the growth of Sunderland.
Volunteers from the station have not only succeeded in gaining recognition in the annual student radio awards in the UK but also awards from the New York Festivals. Station alumni are now found working for BBC and Commercial stations across the UK.
Volunteers at the station are known internally and across the student radio network and media network as "Sparkies".
Community licence and rebrand When the UK media regulator Ofcom announced a plan to issue Community Radio licences, work began at the station to apply for a Full Time licence. This application was made in early in 2007. In September 2007, Ofcom awarded Utopia FM a full-time 5 year Community Radio licence.
It was announced in June 2009 that Utopia FM would be changing its name to 107 Spark FM to signal the change in licence and the broadening of the audience.
In 2012, Spark was awarded 'Best North East Radio Station' in the Radio Academy's 'Nations & Regional Awards'.
In late 2013, the '107' branding was removed for the station and the station was simply known as 'Spark' or 'Spark FM'.
In 2015, the station was updated with a refreshed logo, a slogan change to 'Where Sunderland Lives', new on-air imaging provided by Reelworld and a brand new website.
As of 2016, the station is now referred to as 'Spark' only on air, dropping the 'fm' suffix.
Programming, music and output
The majority of Spark's programming is broadcast live from its studio at the David Puttnam Media Centre at St.Peters Campus of University of Sunderland. Spark broadcasts at least eight hours of original programming each weekday, while overnights are non-stop music. Daytime shows feature a mix of playlist music, interviews, discussions and news reporting.
Spark play a mix of hit music and emerging music. Genres range from Chart Hits, Indie/Alternative, Dance, Urban/R&B. During the evening, 7pm-11pm Spark have a number of specialist music shows, such as 'The Takedown', focusing on different genres.
The station airs hourly national IRN news updates during daytime hours.
Awards +YearAwardsCategoryResult2010Radio Academy North EastBest StationGoldThe Charles Parker PrizeBest Student Audio FeatureSilver2011Radio Academy North EastBest StationGoldThe Charles Parker PrizeBest Student Audio FeatureBronzeI Love Student Radio AwardsVolunteer of the YearGoldStation Manager of the YearCommunity SpiritStudent Radio AwardsBest Marketing & Station SoundNominatedBest NewcomerNominatedBest FemaleNominatedBest SpeechGoldBest SpecialistBronzeBest InterviewSilver2012Radio Academy North EastBest StationGoldNew York Festivals Radio AwardsBest StationSilverI Love Student Radio AwardsVolunteer of the YearGoldCharity ChampionGoldStudent Radio AwardsBest Student Radio StationBronzeBest MaleGoldBest NewcomerNominatedBest Marketing & Station SoundBronzeBest Entertainment ProgrammingGoldNominatedBest Specialist Music ProgrammingGoldBest InterviewGoldSilverNominatedBest Live Event or Outside BroadcastNominated2013I Love Student Radio AwardsCommunity SpiritGoldStudent Radio AwardsBest Speech ProgrammingNominatedBest NewcomerBronzeBest FemaleSilverBest MaleBronze2014The Charles Parker PrizeBest Student Audio FeatureBronzeSilverI Love Student Radio AwardsVolunteer of the YearHighly CommendedHighly CommendedGoldStudent Radio AwardsBest MaleNominatedBest FemaleBest SpeechBest Student Radio StationBronze2015The Charles Parker PrizeBest Student Audio FeatureSilverNew York Festivals Radio AwardsBest Student Drama ProgrammeGoldBest Student Radio StationBronzeI Love Student Radio AwardsVolunteer of the YearGoldHighly CommendedStudent Radio AwardsBest FemaleNominatedNominatedBest Speech ProgrammingNominatedNominatedBronzeGoldBest Multiplatform InitiativeBronzeBest Student Radio StationBronze2016The Charles Parker PrizeBest Student Audio FeatureBronzeNew York Festivals Radio AwardsBest Student DocumentaryNominatedBest Student StationGoldI Love Student Radio AwardsVolunteer of the YearBest Training InitiativeHighly CommendedCommunity Radio AwardsInnovation Award of the YearSilverYoung Person of the YearNominatedSports Show of the YearSilverSpecialist Music Show of the YearSilverArts & Creative Radio of the YearGoldSpeech & Journalism of the YearBronzeNominatedEntertainment Show of the YearNominatedSilverMale Presenter of the YearBronzeStudent Radio AwardsBest Speech ProgrammingSilver2017New York Festivals Radio AwardsBest Student StationNominatedI Love Student Radio AwardsHero of the MomentSilverStudent Radio Team of the YearCommunity Radio AwardsSpeech and Journalism Radio of the YearNominatedCommunity Development Project of the YearNominatedGoldInnovation AwardGoldSports Show of the YearSpecialist Music Show of the YearSilverEntertainment Show of the YearBronzeSilverStudent Radio AwardsBest Male PresenterSilverBest Female PresenterNominatedBest Speech ProgrammingGold2018The Charles Parker PrizeBest Student Audio FeatureSilverNew York Festivals Radio AwardsBest Student DocumentaryGoldI Love Student Radio AwardsHero of the MomentNominatedNominatedTeam of the YearNominatedBest Audience InitiativeBest Training InitiativeOutstanding ContributionNominatedNominatedCommittee Member of the YearHighly CommendedRegion of the YearBest Outreach ProjectCommunity Radio AwardsSports Show of the YearNominatedSpecialist Music Show of the YearGoldArts & Creative Radio of the YearNominatedEntertainment Show of the YearBronzeCommunity Show of the YearNominatedStation of the YearSilverStudent Radio AwardsBest MaleNominatedBest Entertainment ProgrammeBest Specialist Music ProgrammingSilverBest Journalistic ProgrammingNominatedBest Speech ProgrammingGoldBest InterviewNominatedGold2019The Charles Parker PrizeBest Student Audio FeatureNominatedNominatedNew York Festivals Radio AwardsBest Student Drama ProgramNominatedI Love Student Radio AwardsRegion of the YearGoldBest Outreach ProjectHighly CommendedCommunity Radio AwardsSpecialist Music Show of the YearNominatedArts & Creative Radio of the YearSilverNominatedStation of the YearBronzeCommunity Development Project of the YearSilverStudent Radio AwardsBest Student Radio StationNominatedBest MaleBronzeSilverBest Speech ProgrammingBronzeNominated2020The Charles Parker PrizeBest Student Audio FeatureNominatedPrizewinnerNew York Festivals Radio AwardsBest Student DocumentaryBronzeI Love Student Radio AwardsMost Committed Committee MemberNominatedOutstanding ContributionHighly CommendedMoment of the YearNominatedSpirit of Student RadioGoldHero of the MomentNominatedCommunity Radio AwardsPodcast of the YearBronzeSpeech & Journalism of the YearEntertainment Show of the YearNominatedStudent Radio AwardsBest Event or Outside BroadcastBronzeBest PodcastSilverBest InterviewBest ProducerNominatedBest Journalistic ProgrammingBest Speech Show/PresenterBest Music Show/PresenterGoldBest Entertainment Show/PresenterBronze2021The Charles Parker PrizeBest Student Audio FeatureNominatedPrizewinnerPrizewinnerAmplify AwardsTeam of the YearSilverCommunity Radio AwardsSpecialist Music Show of the YearGoldSpeech & Journalism of the YearStudent Radio AwardsBest Student Radio StationNominatedBest PresenterBest NewcomerGoldBest ProducerNominatedNominatedBest Station BrandingNominatedBest Speech ProgrammingBest Specialist Music ProgrammingBest Entertainment Programming2022The Charles Parker PrizeBest Student Audio FeatureNominatedPrizewinnerNew York Festivals Radio AwardsBest Student DocumentaryNominatedBest Student Drama ProgramBronzeAmplify AwardsBest Student Media CollaborationGoldThe Student Radio Amplify AwardSilverBest Contribution to the RegionOutstanding ContributionBronzeStudent Radio Moment of the YearNominatedMost Improved StationTeam of the YearHero of the MomentNominatedNominatedGoldBest Training InitiativeSilverBest Promotional InitiativeNominatedBest Outreach ProjectNominatedNominatedThe Coronavirus Resilience AwardBronzeCommunity Radio AwardsYoung Person of the Year (under 25)GoldArts & Creative Radio of the YearSilverGoldStation of the YearNominatedStudent Radio AwardsBest Specialist Music ProgrammingBronzeBest Entertainment ProgrammingNominatedBest Event ProgrammingSilverBest Radio StationGoldBest Journalistic ProgrammingNominatedThe Diversity, Equality & Inclusivity AwardNominatedBronzeBest Speech ProgrammingSilverNominatedBest Podcast ProgrammingNominatedBest ProducerNominatedBest PresenterNominatedBronzeGoldBest NewcomerSilverGold2023New York Festivals Radio AwardsBest Student DocumentarySilverNominatedAmplify AwardsHero of the MomentGoldBest Training InitiativeNominatedBest Promotional InitiativeBronzeMost Committed Committee MemberNominatedTeam of the YearNominatedNominatedThe Amplify AwardBronzeThe Charles Parker PrizeBest Student Audio FeaturePrizewinnerPrizewinner
Notable alumni A number of Spark volunteers have graduated from the University of Sunderland and gone on to work for local, regional or national radio stations as well as TV stations and print media.
Jordan North (2009–2011): Capital Breakfast on Capital (via Capital Manchester, Rock FM & BBC Radio 1)
References
External links